Chapter 72: Ch 72: To the next Match

"So? Have you decided what you want? Aren’t my goods nice?"

Sasha asked with a confident face, and Aiden sighed and shook his head.

"I am sorry, but none of this is useful to me. I guess I cannot hand over that blessing to you. Besides, even if I wanted to hand it over, my companion has already absorbed it. There is nothing I can do about it."

Sasha’s face broke out into a shocked and horrified look, and she clutched her bag tighter in her arms.

"W-What do you mean...you don’t need any of this? Are you thinking that this phoenix feather is fake? I can assure you that it is real! I can even show you-"

"I don’t doubt that. After all, you are a half-phoenix. But I am just telling you that I have an unlimited supply myself, so it is useless for me."

Sasha tensed at Aiden’s quick admission and him revealing her secret. Her eyes started to dart around for a way out, which made Aiden sigh.

"Don’t worry! I know what you are worried about. But I see no point in revealing your secret. But I do have an offer for you. Would you like to join me in serving Goddess Apophis? Besides, you won’t even be able to absorb that power since you did not win."

Aiden asked, causing Sasha to bare her teeth.

"You know that I am a half-phoenix and you still ask me this question? I can absorb that blessing even without winning. Besides, I belong to the phoenix god Pyraeth. As a phoenix, I am bound to serve the one who governs Flames and Rebirth. Otherwise-"

"But that is not necessarily true. You have not yet awakened as a phoenix, and it seems like you have been cast out. I am just giving you a choice here. If you accept, then even a God like Pyraeth won’t be able to interfere."

Sasha bit her lip in a way that made it look like she was about to cry right then and there.

Honestly, Aiden understood her sorrow. And that was why he was willing to give her a choice...among other things.

But he had no desire to force her to follow his lead. After all, what use was Sasha if she decided to serve Goddess Apophis but resented him all the time? She was only useful if she awakened her love.

’Well, thinking like this makes me a bastard, right? Unfortunately, I was not raised right. Or maybe something is wrong with me. Not that I can bring myself to care.’

The rest was in Sasha’s hands. Aiden could see that she was considering what to do, but she shook her head in the end.

"I...don’t think I am ready to serve another god anytime soon. As for God Vaelor’s favor...I guess I will have to give up on it this time."

Aiden did not stop Sasha when she left. But that was mainly because he had a feeling he would see her soon.

Since she seemed to have the same strategy as them—to participate in God Vaelor’s tournaments—it was obvious where she would be headed next.

Unfortunately, she did not notice that Aiden had already chipped her using the system, and he could keep an eye on her.

"Hmm, now how should I convince a child that it is fate for her to join us? I guess running into us a few times would do the trick."

If once was a chance, and twice was a coincidence, then the third time had to be fate, right? Aiden would forcefully make that fate happen.

...

"How does your body feel? Are the two powers still at war with each other?"

Aiden asked Caelion as they took the carriage to the next town where the next tournament was going to be held. But unlike the last one, this one was being openly advertised, meaning that there would be more people there.

But Aiden was not worried about Caelion losing. He could tell how strong the ex-slave had gotten from a single blessing.

Aiden had chosen a tournament that had the least likely chance of any big-shot appearing since it was in a remote village.

"Ah, don’t worry. Goddess Apophis helped me absorb that blessing, and the power got converted into her own. I will show you how much I have improved during our next fight."

"Hmm, I will look forward to it."

Aiden told Caelion while also keeping an eye out for trouble. That was when he felt Sasha’s presence following his cart around.

It was clear that the young half-phoenix did not trust his words and decided to follow along to keep an eye on him.

The forest quickly got darker, and soon it was time to camp.

Aiden’s camp was safe because of his goddess’s blessing, but he could also feel her presence stirring the monsters around.

[Warning: please check on Sasha Beil and ensure she makes it through the night safely]

[Failure: Termination of the mission ’Gaining the trust of a potential god’]

Aiden sighed as he looked at the system before he forced himself back on his feet.

"Priest Aiden, where are you going? Do you want me to come along with you?"

Caelion asked, already putting his bowl down and ready to accompany Aiden wherever he was heading to.

But Aiden just shook his head to show that he did not want Caelion to come with him.

"Keep an eye on the camp for me. I will be back soon."

Aiden was leaving Goddess Apophis behind for safety reasons, but he also needed Caelion to keep an eye on his goddess.

Caelion nodded to show that he understood, and Aiden finally headed toward the forest where the chipped half-phoenix was.

She was currently running away from something, and Aiden raised his gun to shoot at the demon that was chasing her.

Sasha noticed him, and her eyes widened in shock.

"What are you doing here? Hurry! Run away! Or else-"

She tried to speak, only to hear another loud gunshot and another monster taken out.